And that’s how you WIN! Whuuuu! Te Kahu Ariki dominated at the Aussie Kapa Haka Competition last weekend and we’re here to recap it all!

This week we’re joined on the couch by Otene Hopa, kaitātaki of Hātea, who has long been involved in kapa haka in Ahitereiria. Together, we break down the results, share our thoughts and talk about the growth of kapa haka in Australia over the last few years because it has been MASSIVE. Sending a BIG mihi to all of the kapa who did their thing over the weekend!

We also preview ASB Polyfest – Te Paparewa Māori, happening this week. We can’t wait to see all of our rangatahi take the stage over four days of performances.

Āpōpō, we recap Te Tai Tokerau Regionals so make sure you’re back here, at 8pm.

E te whānau, LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns.

Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko.

#hakayarns #kapahaka #tematatini #asbpolyfest #tereoMāori #māori #kapahaka

00:00 - Intro

02:43 - Aus Recap

0⁠5:55 - Results

10:02 - Top 3 Debrief

12:06 - Te Hau Tawhiti

14:04 - Te Kahu Ariki

21:14 - Te Matatini Wānanga

25:26 - Polyfest Wānanga

PSA 📢 At the time of recording and uploading, the whakataetae is still going ahead. We hope everyone travelling and performing this weekend stays safe in this weather. Kia haumaru koutou, otirā, tātou katoa!

This week, we head to Te Tai Tokerau for 'Maranga Mai e te Iwi', where our very own Kahurangi will be judging!

With 9 kapa ngāhau, 5 kapa whakataetae, and only 4 qualifying through to Te Matatini, it’s going to be a tough comp!

In this episode, we preview the kapa and what we know so far, go through the judging panel and what they’ll be looking for, and also touch on the disputes process in Te Tai Tokerau.

PLUS we share our PICKS - who misses out? Te Tai Tokerau is tight e hoa mā!

LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more weekly Haka Yarns!

Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko.

#hakayarns #kapahaka #tematatini #maori #tereo #indigenous #tereoMāori #podcast

Kua hoki mai a Kereama!

While he was away, the Te Arawa Kapa Haka Committee announced a change to the regionals results, confirming first equal placings between Te Pikikōtuku o Ngāti Rongomai and Ngāti Whakaue. Wiwiwiwiwi… te drama hoki!

We react to the news, and we ask: He aha pea ētahi akoranga? What can we learn from this?

Then we head to Te Whenua Moemoeā!

This weekend, three kapa will qualify for Te Matatini. We preview the comp and go through all the kapa going head to head.

A big wānanga not to be missed!

Make sure you LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns.

Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko.

#hakayarns #kapahaka #tematatini #maori #tereo #kapahakalife #indigenous #tereoMāori #māorimedia #kapahakacommunity

Arguably one of the biggest pressures we face as kaihaka in te ao kapa haka! 👀

Why do people choose their kapa? Is it about whakapapa? Opportunity? Growth? What does loyalty really mean? And when does it become waka jumping?

We wānanga the expectations placed on kaihaka, from whānau ties to progression, to the pressure of staying put.

PLUS what's the difference between kapa-ā-iwi and karapu? Chey gives his perspective.

Let us know your whakaaro in the comments!

Make sure you LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns.

Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko.

#māori #kapahaka #hakayarns #māori #tematatini #indigenous #aratauamedia

We’re 1 day away from TE ARAWA REGIONALS 🔥 and it’s safe to say things have been boiling away in our tari…

The weekend we’ve been anticipating the most as a team of Te Arawa kaihaka!

Can Ngāti Whakaue (Kereama & Anipātene) defend their crown? Or will Ngāti Rangiwewehi (Chey & Kahu) take the reins this year? Maybe it’s the year for Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao (Hapi) who placed 2nd in 2024? Or will Te Hikuwai (Tamihana) come through with a surprise?

We go through the teams competing, what we know, and what we can predict heading into the weekend.

We also take a look at the judging panel, revisit the 2024 results, and then…

We give our PICKS. 👀

Who you got? Name your 6 in the comments!

Make sure you LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns.

Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāho i ēnei pūtea tautoko.

#kapahaka #hakayarns #tematatini #māori #indigenous #aratauamedia

A new champion has been crowned at Te Kāhui Maunga Regionals… and what a weekend it was!

For everyone who missed him, Chey is back!

In this episode of Haka Yarns, the crew unpack the results, the performances that stood out, and the razor-thin margin that decided the winners. E mihi ana li Ngā Purapura o Te Taihauāuru!

We also share anonymous judge insights, honour some standout moments from across the weekend, and take a look at how the Top 12 for Te Matatini 2027 is shaping up (our blackboard, that is).

PLUS - Haka Yarns gets a special mention at the pōhiri…? 👀 Our whakaaro on that.

Make sure you LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns.

Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāhō i ēnei pūtea tautoko.

#kapahaka #hakayarns #māori #tematatini #indigenous #aratauamedia

Back again with Anipātene, Kereama and Te Wehi and this time, we head to Te Kāhui Maunga as the rohe prepares for their upcoming regionals!

With 13 kapa competing for just 4 qualifying spots, the pressure is ON! The crew break it down - which teams should we be looking out for? Who are the judges on the panel this year? And who are they picking to go through?

We also get into a wānanga about one of the toughest challenges in kapa haka… the pressure of defending a title. Can the reigning champions Te Reanga Morehu o Ratana hold their ground?

Make sure you LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns!

Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāhō i ēnei pūtea tautoko.

#kapahaka #māori #competition #indigenous #aratauamedia

The dust has settled after the Mātaatua Regionals… but the kōrero is just getting started!

In this episode of Haka Yarns, we recap the results, the standout performances, the surprises, and we take a look at the reason defending champions Te Whānau a Apanui had a 5 point deduction, placing them 6th overall.

Joining us in the whare is seasoned kaihaka and MC Te Wehi Preston, sitting down with Anipātene and Kereama. No Chey this week (& his FOMO is real).

We reflect on the competition and ask the big question… were anyone’s predictions actually right? 😅

We also get into a side of kapa haka that doesn’t always get talked about: the art of MCing. What actually makes a good MC? What’s the pressure like holding it all together across an entire weekend? According to Te Wehi… it’s not as easy as it looks.

And Kereama reignites an old debate... should Tauranga have its own regional kapa haka competition? 👀

Make sure you LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Haka Yarns!

Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāhō i ēnei pūtea tautoko.

#kapahaka #māori #competition #indigenous #aratauamedia

In this wānanga, we check out results from the last Mātaatua Regionals - what actually went down in 2024? 👀 And are we about to see a repeat… or a reset?

Then… we put our reputations on the line. We lock in our PICKS. No fence sitting here. Even the crew cam gets involved! 😅 Who qualifies? Who’s on the edge? And who could completely shake up the rohe this year?

We get into the nitty-gritty!

Want more HAKA YARNS? Subscribe to the Arataua Youtube channel.

Ngā mihi nui ki a Te Māngai Pāhō i ēnei pūtea tautoko

#kapahaka #māori #competition #indigenous #aratauamedia

We preview Mātaatua Regionals 2026 ahead of the big whakataetae this weekend!

14 kapa go head-to-head for just 6 spots at Te Matatini. Who will bring it? 👀

From defending champions to fresh, youthful lineups… from 30-year anniversaries to kapa returning after decades away from Te Matatini, this weekend is STACKED.

No Anipātene this week sadly so it’s up to Chey and Kereama to hold the kōrero and give the people what they want… “just like old times” they reckon! 😂

Enjoy our full breakdown of Mātaatua Kapa Haka! And let us know your PICKS in the comments!

New episodes drop every Wednesday & Thursday. Subscribe for more #HAKAYARNS ❤️‍🔥